Timing and crank/cam sensorsGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Garage soon
Code P0366: camshaft sensor "B" out of range
P0366 means: camshaft position sensor "B" circuit: performance problem or out-of-range values (bank 1).[1][2] The signal from camshaft sensor "B" on bank 1 (normally the exhaust one) arrives, but does not behave as the ECU expects: it is noisy, arrives at the wrong point in the crankshaft's rotation or is not plausible when compared with it.[1]
What code P0366 means
The signal from camshaft sensor "B" on bank 1 (normally the exhaust one) arrives, but does not behave as the ECU expects: it is noisy, arrives at the wrong point in the crankshaft's rotation or is not plausible when compared with it.[1]
Unlike the circuit codes (P0365), there is a signal here, but it is not reliable. That is why the ECU usually leaves the variable valve timing in a base position until the signal becomes credible again. It is a generic code (P0).[1][3]
Original definition (SAE J2012): Camshaft Position Sensor "B" Circuit Range/Performance (Bank 1)[1][2]
Causes of P0366
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
- 1Camshaft sensor "B" generating a noisy or out-of-phase pulse.[1]
- 2Loose or corroded connector terminals, or oil in the connector.[1]
- 3Harness chafed, pinched or heat-damaged, or damaged shielding that lets interference in.[1]
- 4Camshaft wheel damaged or dirty, or incorrect gap between sensor and wheel.[1][4]
- 5Worn timing phaser or a slack timing chain, which puts the camshaft out of phase with the crankshaft.[1][4]
- 6Low oil level or dirty oil, which harms the variable valve timing actuator.[1]
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on, sometimes with another variable valve timing code.[1]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- Unstable idle.[1]Vibrations: faults that cause it
- Occasional stalling while the ECU corrects the timing.[1]Engine stalls: faults that cause it
- Long cranking or intermittent failure to start.[1]Hard to start: faults that cause it
- Loss of power or a "limp mode" feeling.[1]Less power: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P0366
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Read the codes and the freeze-frame data. Look for accompanying codes from the P0365 to P0369 family, sensor "A" (P0340 to P0344), the crankshaft (P0335, P0336) or variable valve timing.[1][4]
- 2As it is often an intermittent fault, test with the engine warm, wiggling the harness and connector while watching the signal.[1]
- 3Check the camshaft connector, harness, sensor and wheel: oil, terminals, damage and gap to the sensor.[1][4]
- 4Check the oil level and condition, and if there are correlation codes (P0016, P0017) investigate the timing before replacing the sensor.[1][4]
- 5Replace the sensor only when everything else has been ruled out.[1][4]
Can I keep driving with P0366?
Garage soon
AutoDTCs rates it as moderate severity: you can usually keep driving, but there may be stalling, hard starting or loss of power, so it should be diagnosed before you depend on the car.[1]
Parts related to code P0366
The parts that most often cause this code. The code points to the circuit, not always the part: diagnose before you buy.
Camshaft adjuster
Timing chain kit
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Documented faults related to P0366
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
Engine sensors: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTIVP44 injection pump and air mass meter failureGerman Wikipedia documents recurring failures of the Bosch VP44 injection pump and the air mass meter in the early years of this engine. An owner testimony for this engine describes the pump being replaced at 192,500 km, at a cost the owner calls «prohibitive».
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 TDIClogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorThe 2.0 TDI's particulate filter clogs if the car mostly makes short journeys, because it never gets to regenerate; sometimes the fault is just the differential pressure sensor. Cleaning it costs around €200 and replacing it, €800 to €3,000.Repair (garage): €800–€3,000
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vCrankshaft position sensor failure (TDC sensor)The crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH, or TDC sensor) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Logan I with this engine, with hard cold starting or stalling as the main symptoms. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 16vCrankshaft position sensor failureThe crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for almost every generation with this engine, with hard cold starting, stalling or the car cutting out unexpectedly. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
Variable valve timing (VVT) actuator: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)Loosening of the camshaft adjuster boltsPorsche acknowledges that the fixing bolts of the camshaft adjusters on certain Cayenne S and Turbo and Panamera models built up to September 2011 can fail: noise, vibration, engine warning light and, in rare cases, stalling. There has been a worldwide workshop campaign since 2012.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW N43/N46Wear of the Valvetronic and the VANOS solenoid valvesOver the years, the eccentric shaft or the actuator motor of the Valvetronic can wear and cause heavy idle fluctuations; the VANOS solenoid valves also fail over time, with similar symptoms and a loss of power. According to English-language Wikipedia, the 1.6-litre N43B16 does not have Valvetronic.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonM111Camshaft adjuster oil leak into the wiringYes: the magnet (solenoid valve) of the M111 camshaft adjuster can lose its seal, and the oil creeps up by capillary action to the connector and the wiring loom. Mercedes-Benz has the same repair cable as for the M271 (part number A2711502733), which is cheap to fit.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonM271Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster solenoids into the wiringYes: the camshaft adjuster solenoids (magnets) of the M271 can lose their seal, and the oil wicks up to the connector and the wiring loom, and can even reach the control unit. Mercedes-Benz has a specific repair cable (reference A2711502733) that is cheap to fit.
Timing chain: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.5 BlueHDiWear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshaftsIn 1.5 BlueHDi engines built between October 2017 and January 2023, the 7 mm chain linking the camshafts can stretch and break, causing serious engine damage. Stellantis has recalled them and covers the fault for 10 years or 240,000 km.Repair (garage): €730–€820
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 and 1.4 TSITiming chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111)On the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI EA111 (2006-2015) the chain can stretch and the tensioner fall short; if the chain jumps a tooth, the valves hit the pistons. Volkswagen admitted the defect in 2012 and revised the chain and tensioner between 2010 and 2011.Repair (garage): €700–€1,400Appears at around 30,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentBMW N47Rear timing chain stretch and breakageYes: the N47 has its timing chain at the rear of the engine, next to the gearbox, and on a very high proportion of units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, it stretches or breaks prematurely because of an inadequate tensioner, with a risk of destroying the engine.Repair (garage): €1,590–€3,000Appears at around 50,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentOM651Timing chain stretch and tensioner failureYes: the OM651 timing chain can stretch prematurely, above all on units built up to 2013, and in 2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz recalled around 114,000 vehicles in Germany over a defective sealing ring in the tensioner. A metallic rattle on a cold start is the first sign.Repair (garage): €2,000–€3,500Appears at around 120,000 km
Wiring, connectors and short circuits: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW N62 / N63Additional turbo coolant pump with a risk of short circuit and fireIn 2011 BMW recalled 5, 6 and 7 Series, X5 and X6 models built between 2007 and 2011 because of the additional turbo coolant pump: moisture, a short circuit and, in extreme cases, a fire. In 2012 there was another campaign for a crack in the pump, with a more robust version.
- Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)Main relay of the power relay assembly (overheating and fire risk)Yes, on the first units: Hyundai and Kia recalled 2016–2018 Ioniq and Niro hybrids and plug-in hybrids because the main relay that connects the high-voltage battery could come loose, overheat and, in the worst case, cause a fire.
- Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)Clutch hydraulic actuator (HCA): leak or moisture with risk of short circuit and fireYes, this is the most documented hybrid system fault: the hydraulic actuator that engages the combustion engine with the hybrid assembly has had two recalls (2018 for a leak on the Niro and 2025 for moisture in its electronic board on the Niro, Ceed and XCeed PHEV), with a risk of short circuit and fire.
- High severityFrequency: Occasional1.3 TCeBlown fuel pump fuseOn the Renault Captur II and Clio V with the 1.3 TCe engine, a 20-amp fuse can blow and leave the car without an engine. According to L'argus, in April 2021 this fault still had no factory fix; the official service centre's diagnosis includes checking, and sometimes replacing, the catalytic converter.
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonRover 75Seat SRS connector fault with airbag and seatbelt warning light onAuto Express warns that the Rover 75's seat SRS connector can cause the airbags to fail, and dealers were fixing it with revised connectors. The Dutch APK inspection puts the airbag or seatbelt fault warning among the most frequent defects across almost all series.
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo GiuliettaShort circuit from badly routed wiring that can prevent gear shifting (KBA campaign, 2010-2015)Yes: according to Germany's KBA, on Alfa Romeo Giulietta cars built between 2010 and 2015 inadequate cable routing could cause a short circuit and, as a result, gear-shift failure.
P0366 by make
Documented faults that can trigger P0366 in each make's engines and cars.
Frequently asked questions
What does code P0366 mean?
The signal from camshaft sensor "B" on bank 1 is present, but is out of range or does not match that of the crankshaft.[1][2]
Does P0366 mean the sensor is broken?
Not necessarily. It can be down to the connector, the harness, the camshaft wheel or a timing offset; the chain and the phaser can also cause it.[1][4]
Can I drive with P0366?
You can generally keep driving for a while, but there is a risk of stalling, hard starting and loss of power. It should be diagnosed soon.[1]
Is it the same as P0341?
They are equivalent, but P0341 affects sensor "A" (normally the intake one) and P0366 sensor "B" (normally the exhaust one) on bank 1.[1][2]
Will I pass the MOT with code P0366?
If the code has switched on the engine warning light, no: with that light on, the inspection records a serious defect, and on Euro 5 and Euro 6 cars the ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection, similar to the MOT) also reads the OBD diagnostic system. Repair the fault before you go; clearing the code just before the inspection does not help either, because it counts as a serious defect.[5]
Not sure what is wrong with your car? Describe what you notice in the symptom diagnosis or see all fault codes.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- P0366 – Camshaft Position Sensor “B” Circuit Range/Performance Bank 1AutoDTCs · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- p0366 Generic DTC: Camshaft Position Sensor "B" Circuit Range/PerformanceDTCSearch · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- On-board diagnosticsWikipedia · Other source · consulted 29 October 2026
- How to Test Crankshaft and Camshaft Position SensorsAutoDTCs · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- Desmontando mitos: ¿puede pasar mi coche la ITV con el testigo de «avería motor» encendido?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 March 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish